Charlie Morton had a start to forget in Sunday’s 14-2 Spring Training loss to the Houston Astros.
Morton allowed seven runs on nine hits in his 4.1 innings pitched and as a result lost his first game of the spring. The Pirates are now 7-8-3 in Spring Training.
The highlight of the game for the Pirates was Jordy Mercer’s second home run of the spring. The blast came in the sixth inning and was hit off Dan Straily. Mercer is 7 for his last 11 at the plate and is hitting .294 this spring.
Morton retired the side in order in the first inning however allowed three hits to his first four batters in the second inning. That third hit was a two-run RBI triple from Jonathan Villar. Two batters later, Alex Presley added the second triple of the inning. By inning’s end the score was 3-0 Astros.
The Astros scored a single run in the fourth inning on a Chris Carter home run, his second of the spring. They would add an additional run in the fourth with Colby Rasmus’s fourth home run.
The Pirates got on the board in the fourth inning on a Pedro Alvarez RBI ground out. Alvarez is hitting .333 this spring.
In the fifth inning the Astros put the game out of reach by scoring eight runs. Morton allowed a double to Carter and then was replaced by Charlie Leesman. Leesman fared worse than Morton throwing two-thirds of an inning and allowing six runs [five of which were earned] and six hits. Leesman allowed his first four batters to reach base.
John Holdzkom allowed his second run of the spring in the seventh inning on a Gregorio Petit ground-rule double. Holdzkom has a 3.86 ERA this spring as he fights for a roster spot.
Tom Harlan got the last out in the seventh inning and Blake Wood pitched a scoreless eighth.
Jaff Decker, who also is fighting for what is likely the last bench spot went 2-for-3 at the plate and has a .296 batting average.
Monday the Pirates will have a road game against the Tampa Bay Rays. A.J. Burnett is scheduled to pitch as are Arquimedes Caminero and Bobby LaFromboise. Chris Archer will start for the Rays.
